Bristol man gets two years in prison in connection with Plainville burglary

PLAINVILLE – A Bristol man has pleaded guilty to breaking into a local home while the resident there was somewhat immobilized, and stealing a laptop and a bicycle.

Deonnedre Jones, 24, of 218 West St., Bristol, entered guilty pleas to charges of second-degree burglary and fifth-degree larceny during a hearing Thursday in Bristol Superior Court. His burglary plea was entered under the Alford doctrine - meaning he disputes the elements required for this charge, but believes there is a chance he could have been convicted after a trial.

According to Alfonzo Sirica, Jones’ attorney, he did not dispute the larceny aspect of the case. Jones on Thursday was sentenced to two years in prison. He had originally been charged by police with home invasion, but a judge did not find probable cause for that count at the arraignment hearing.

On Thursday, charges of attempted second-degree burglary and second-degree breach of peace were dropped.

According to the police report, officers were called, at about 3 p.m., on April 30 on the report of a suspicious man going door-to-door in the area of Rockwell Avenue. Jones, who police say matched the description of the suspect, was seen in the area by officers and detained while the investigation was conducted.

Police then spoke to a resident who said he was sitting in his home when someone knocked on the door. The suspect then entered the house without permission and asked for someone named John, the report said. The resident told the man no one lived there by that name and he left.

The resident had a hard time moving around because of a recent surgery. But when he got up to make sure the suspect had left, he noticed that the family laptop was missing. His wife later noticed that a bicycle was also missing.

Another resident told police a male with a similar description to Jones entered her rear porch area and tried the door knob to her home. The door was locked, so the man walked around the house and tried the front door. It was also locked.

The suspect was then seen by the woman going next door, where the man reported a missing laptop and bicycle, before going to yet another neighbor's house.

According to police, Jones was arrested earlier in the day on a fifth-degree larceny charge in connection with a shoplifting incident at a local retailer. He was released on a non-surety bond about a half hour before police were called to Rockwell Avenue.

The shoplifting case was dropped on Thursday.

Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or at jmuszynski@centralctcommunications.com.